Winona Lake, Indiana

Geography

Winona Lake is located at 41°13′15″N 85°49′2″W (41.220818, -85.817118). It is now contiguous to Warsaw, the two towns having run into each another as they have expanded.

According to the 2010 census, Winona Lake has a total area of 3.25 square miles (8.42 km²), of which 2.76 square miles (7.15 km²) (or 84.92%) is land and 0.49 square miles (1.27 km²) (or 15.08%) is water.

History

Winona Lake is best known for the lake it is named after and built on, although the lake was originally known as Eagle Lake. Located around the eastern shore of the lake, the Winona Lake Historic District includes various historic homes and other buildings that attest to the area's history as a Chautauqua and Bible conference hotspot. It is also the home of Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary and was the home of famed preacher and professional baseball player Billy Sunday who died in 1935. Christian musician and preacher Homer Rodeheaver also made Winona Lake his home from 1912 until his death in 1955. The Winona School of Professional Photography was started there in 1912 (as the Indiana School of Photography) and was operated by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) until its move to Chicago (Mount Prospect) in 1988. Famous photographers from around the world taught there during summer-only classes. The now defunct Winona College was founded here, and the Winona Lake School of Theology was located here from 1920 to 1970. Winona Lake was also home to the headquarters of The Free Methodist Church until it moved its offices to Indianapolis in 1990.

The Winona Lake Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,908 people, 1,569 households, and 1,098 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,778.3 inhabitants per square mile (686.6/km²). There were 1,786 housing units at an average density of 647.1 per square mile (249.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.2% White, 1.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 4.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.4% of the population.

There were 1,569 households of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.13.

The median age in the town was 28.3 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 22.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.3% were from 25 to 44; 19.9% were from 45 to 64; and 12.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,987 people, 1,371 households, and 972 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,375.7 people per square mile (530.8/km²). There were 1,513 housing units at an average density of 522.0 per square mile (201.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.15% White, 0.75% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.74% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.28% of the population.

There were 1,371 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the town, the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,454, and the median income for a family was $50,817. Males had a median income of $35,313 versus $25,769 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,025. About 3.6% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.